Lockable water tank caps - No keys !

Willie

I am an idiot who kept all the spare keys for the caps on one key ring, then left them in the cap, in Boulder Caravan Park. Management said they were never handed in.

I used a sock for the missing water cap, but could not get the other water cap, or my diesel cap off to fill them. Whilst on a detecting tour at Wiluna, I tried everybody's cap keys and got the diesel tank open.

Now I have that unlocked, it just leaves the locked potable cap. My plan is to buy three new ones with a common key - is that possible ?

We lost a cap once on a trip out to the East McDonnells - i hadn't put it on properly. On our return to Alice Springs, the caravan parts shop at the Heritage CP had the right caps. As it was one i did not consider asking if they could be purchased in keyed alike sets. We do not use ours for water filling from hose supplies as we have an add-on one point filling connection. On this occasion we were working on the water tanks and had saved and were replacing rain water in our drinking water tanks.

Snap on hose connection to a fitting on draw bar, which has an irrigation four way tap so each tank can be filled in turn or all at once. So much easier than fighting those caps which i can never work out how to get off - or put on, since i lost one :(, and going from inlet to inlet with the hose.

Willie,
Please don't think ill of me when I pass this information on to you, I can assure you I am not a person with a criminal mind.

To open a lock when the key is lost, the easiest way is to use a cordless drill fitted with a 1/8 inch drill bit and insert the drill bit whilst it's turning straight into the key slot and push it all the way to the end of the lock barrel. Do this a few times in and out to ream out the tumblers in the barrel. This usually renders the locking tangs useless and then using a flat bladed screwdriver in the key slot, turn the lock. If not successful the first time, more reaming of the lock barrel should do the trick for you.

I recall that years ago one member had a locksmith replace all the external locks so that he only needed one key. I think all the barrels were replaced. My recollection is that it cost about $200. I thought it was a good idea at the time but never got around to doing it. It wouldn't be hard to confirm if you take a cap into a locksmith.
Mick

I ordered three new caps, but I was unable to get them with the same key.

I jemmied off the locked cap, but unfortunately the collar that it locks onto, on the filer neck, also came away attached to the cap.My local locksmith seperated the two parts. I will now have to glue that collar back into the filler neck, but that's no big deal.

I bit the bullet last week and bought some Clearview towing mirrors - nice.

Be careful when you first fit the Clearviews. They take a little time to get used-to. They are much wider than your original mirrors, so clearance needs to be considered. Also the left-hand mirror is a normal mirror, not the (convex, or concave, don't remember which one) reducing view of a standard left hand mirror.
However, once you get them adjusted to your likings, they are great. The little mirrors are great for keeping an eye on where the van wheels are relative to the side of the road, and also great for reversing down narrow driveways.
Enjoy!!

After the last WA trip, I was so annoyed with not being able to tell if it was clear (because of those bloody curved - ha ha - mirrors) to pull back in after passing, that I decided I had to buy a set.

They are a big problem in my garage though which only just fits my car and my wifes little Aldi.

“Stick your head out the window Willie, like the hundreds of poor saps………”

I always shudder when I see this practice, especially if they also open the drivers door so they can stretch out to see to the rear.

Several years ago at my factory units a driver was doing just that to reverse into a parking bay with a brick pillar one side and a brick wall on the other.

Something went wrong, we will never know exactly what, maybe he sneezed, perhaps his right foot slipped but the result was devastating.
The car accelerated back and his head was totally removed from his torso.
I will not further describe the scene, terrible.

I'm not sure how this exchange has blown out. I was attempting a little humour Bob, as Willie seemed to be having trouble with his new ClearViews, I was in no-way condoning the practice of sticking your head out the window, or worse, the practice you describe. As a truck-driver (in a former life) I am endlessly appalled and bemused at the antics of many fellow nomads' pathetic attempts to back anything. Most particularly by those who have little or no idea what they are doing, having meaningless directions squawked at them (sometimes on a hand-held 2-way) by the Mrs, who has no idea either. LOL!